Jenny Beresford: is an accomplished CEO with vast experience in strategic and operational management in a dynamic business environment.
Graduating with a B.A. in Tourism Business Management, Jenny spent a number of years working in America, Australia and Africa before finally settling back to Dungarvan.
In her current roles as Chamber CEO and Dungarvan Tourist Office Manager, Jenny has done extensive work in tandem with stakeholders from both business and tourism sectors, where she sees a natural alignment.
Over the past 14 years, Jenny has tripled Dungarvan Chamber membership from 90 to over 300 businesses of all sizes and from all sectors. Also responsible for driving Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber Shopping Voucher sales, Jenny led a campaign that generated nearly One Million Euros of voucher sales in 2021!
Passionate about promotion, Jenny is committed to advocating Dungarvan as ‘the best place to live, work stay and play’. Determined for Dungarvan reach the potential the Waterford Greenway would offer, Jenny was responsible for a ‘Get Greenway Ready’ initiative and ‘Dungarvan Home Of The Greenway’ promotion. These days Jenny is pioneering a ‘Tailored Employment Initiative’ which is a multi-agency collaboration whose purpose it is to build a fit for purpose, collaborative, tailored employment initiative which will futureproof employment for the area. Also part of a steering group which was recently awarded significant funding, Jenny is working towards Dungarvan Digital Transformational Hubs which will future proof Dungarvan as a great place to do business and will support business sustainability and development across sectors.
Through championing many projects, Dungarvan has been to the fore in gaining inclusive, tourist-friendly titles in recent years. For example, Dungarvan became Ireland’s first Dementia Friendly Town in 2015, as well as being one of only 3 towns in Ireland to achieve and retain ‘Coach Friendly Status’ since 2016.
Through Jenny’s role, the Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber was shortlisted for 5 National Awards with Chambers Ireland, winning the ‘Best Virtual Event’ in 2021, a year in which Jenny was recognised by RSVP magazine as one of the most influential women in Waterford.
In her down time, Jenny loves walking the Waterford Greenway near her house, enjoying the fantastic food offering in Dungarvan and the odd cocktail!